Monday, February 16, 2009

Rebuilding Our Lives!

"This is stupid!"

"I can't believe I have to do this!"

"Why do I have to do this? Why can't someone else? Don't they know who I am?"

We have all been in situations where we have thought those same thoughts, or something similar, before. Hopefully, we have matured past these thoughts. In our journey as leaders there will be days when we just don't get it. It seems as if nothing is ever going to be like we thought it would be.

Our lives are inundated with aspects of ministry, but is this really what God wants for us? The Israelites were in the midst of captivity for seventy years. The only thing that probably kept them going was knowing in seventy years this all would be over. Still, seventy years is a long time. Some of the ones who came into captivity would die before they saw God's promise fulfilled. To be honest, it was probably difficult not to get weary.

The promise was God's redemption. God says, "Once the seventy years is up, I'll punish the king of Babylon and the whole nation of Babylon for their sin. Then they'll be the wasteland...They won't get by with anything." Jer. 25:12-14 The Message

When it seems as if we are never going to get out of the situations we are in, we have the promise that God will come through.

The key is this:

We have to make sure we have set our eyes, our spirits, on seeking God and His will, not ours. Seek Him with all our heart. He says that when we look for Him we'll find Him. When we call on Him and pray He will listen. When we truly get serious about finding God and want Him more than anything else, He will make sure we are not disappointed. Jer. 29:10-14

Over the years I have pondered why we, as believers, do not see more miracles around us. Is it because we have so much going on in our lives we do not take the time to seek God with ALL our hearts? Are we so busy doing ministry we do not allow us to be who God so desires?

Take time to search our hearts and ask God to reveal to us what we need to do in order to become who He wants. When we do this He will show up. Pray for those who are giving us a hard time. Pray for blessings on them. God told the Israelites to pray for Babylon, that things would go well for, not only Babylon, but them as well. Jer. 29:7

We need to make ourselves at home, because God will restore and bless us in His time. Pray for those who are giving us a hard time. Pray for the parishoner that is always "on our case." Pray for our children who are "driving us crazy."

He says in Jer. 30:10, "...find life good, safe and secure." "I'll come with healing, curing the incurable." v17 "I'll compassionately come in and rebuild homes...things will get better and better...they'll thrive, they'll flourish..." vv18-21

"...You'll be my very own people, I'll be your very own God." Jer. 30:22

Jeremiah chapter 31 is awesome! God says he will restore and the people of Israel can resume their singing. Their lives will be like a well watered garden. He is going to make sure His people have more than enough. He is going to create a new thing. He will restore tired bodies and tired souls.

What is going on in our lives right now? Are we weary? Are our bodies tired and worn out? Have we been doing ministry because it is our responsibility and duty? Have we lost the joy of ministry? Are attitudes of people getting to us? Be encouraged and read through Jeremiah 24 through 31.

God is with us. We are where God wants us to be. Allow Him to speak to our spirit and restore our soul.

"'Be ready. The time's coming'-God's Decree-'when I will plant people and animals in Israel and Judah, just as a farmer plants seed. And in the same way that earlier I relentlessly pulled up and tore down, took apart and demolished, so now I am sticking with them as they start over, building and planting.'" Jer. 31:24-28 The Message

"This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them - write it on their hearts! - and be their God. And they will be my people...They'll know me firsthand..." Jer. 31:33-34 The Message

Wherever we are right now in ministry God is with us. If we feel broken and torn down; God is here for us, to rebuild and give us a new start. He loves each of us deeply. He knows the plans He has for us...plans to take care of us and give us a the future we hope for.

Be encouraged and blessed! You are on the edge of great breakthroughs with God!